Pipe & Glass named Michelin Pub of the Year
The freehold pub is run by James and Kate McKenzie who took on the site in 2006. James’ CV includes the Star Inn at Harome.
Guide editor Rebecca Burr said: “This award is given to a pub which we feel offers something extra special. Here it is a combination of factors which include the warmth of the welcome, the friendliness of the staff, the character of the place and, of course, the food. The Pipe and Glass Inn is a wonderfully warm pub and nothing is ever too much trouble for the owners.”
This year’s guide includes more than 530 pubs, selected for the quality of their food. There are 86 new entries for 2012.
Among new entries are the Bell at West Overton, Wiltshire; the Red Lion at Hunningham, Warwickshire; the Black Horse Inn in Kirkby Fleetham, North Yorkshire, the Kinmel Arms, St George, Wales and the Gaggle of Geese in Buckland Newton, Dorset.
The guide also highlights ‘Inspectors’ favourites’ which are pubs that are deemed to be extra special, because of their setting or character, the charming service or the exceptional quality of their cooking.
Among ‘new Inspectors favourites’ are the Berkeley Arms in Wymondham, East Midlands, Hillbrooke Hotels’ Bull & Swan in Stamford, Lincolnshire, Will and Rebecca White’s freehold the Full Moon in Morton, Nottinghamshire and the Bull at Great Totham, Essex and Madeline Bonvini-Hamel and Ross Pike’s British Larder in Bromeswell, Suffolk and My dining Room in Fulham, London and Heston Blumenthal’s new pub the Crown in Bray, Berkshire.
Burr added: “We can all feel justly proud of our pubs and the way they have adapted to changing times. The pubs in our guide offer great food, often at competitive prices, and our inspectors keep discovering more and more of them. These pubs make terrific use of local produce and often champion regional specialities – some have taken to keeping their own livestock out the back and even the lowly bar snack has been getting a makeover.
“Our pubs are now the jewels of the hospitality industry.”
The 2012 edition of the Michelin Eating Out in Pubs guide is available in from Friday 4 November, priced at £13.99.
